Team Rhode Island scores some wins

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Maccabi Games are infused with competition, collegiality and pure fun

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – Team Rhode Island had a fabulous time at Maccabi in Orange County. We competed in sports, performed in theatrical and dance numbers, contributed through community service projects, partied and made friendships that will last a lifetime.

Here are the results for Team Rhode Island:

Swimming

Natalie Westrick: Did not place, but beat most of her personal bests.

Daniel Rabin: Gold medal, 200-meter medley relay and silver medal, 400-meter medley relay.

Nathan Reed: Bronze medal, 200-meter freestyle relay.

Sandy Gamm: Gold medal, 400-meter medley relay.

Lyndsay Goldstein: Gold medal, 400-meter medley relay and bronze medal, 200-meter freestyle relay.

Sela Lutterbeck: Silver medal, 400-meter medley relay.

Soccer

Noah Turner: Did not win any games with his mixed delegation soccer team that included teens from several California communities and San Antonio, Texas, but he played well, improved throughout the week and had a lot of fun. Noah received a midot (Jewish values) medal for supporting his teammates whenever he had free time.

Baseball

Elias Eberman, Gabe Mernoff, Jake Hammarstrom and Jackson Mayer, with help from Andrew Mattera: Did not win any games, but their last game was very close. They, too, enjoyed playing on a team with teens from Orange County and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Track and field

Sonia Richter: Took four gold, two silver and one bronze medal in track and field events. Our baseball team, which joined her on the last day for the pentathlon, was able to try new events, such as the discus throw and long jump.

Hannah Rossheim: Earning a bronze in lacrosse, she played on a mixed team with teens from Albany, N.Y., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Orange County, Suffolk County, N.Y. and Virginia Beach, Va.

Julia Keizler: Had several dance numbers during the final presentation, including one very expressive and interpretative dance.

Julia Birnbaum: Participated in the final musical theater presentation, which had everyone up and singing along to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”

Although the 2013 Maccabi Games and Artsfest of Aug. 4 – 9 is still fresh in our memories, we are already planning ahead for the 2014 summer JCC Maccabi Games and Artsfest. We hope to bring 24 teens to Detroit, Mich., on Aug. 17 – 22.

The first informational meeting will be on Sunday, Sept. 29, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. at the Alliance JCC. Contact Shannon Boucher (sboucher@jewishallianceri.org) or 421-4111, ext. 147, for more information.

Shannon Boucher is director of children’s programs for the Alliance JCC.